Anthropological Reports on the Edo-speaking Peoples of Nigeria

GRAMMAR OF THE EDO LANGUAGE.

The family of languages whose distribution is here described,
appears to be distinct from those of the surrounding peoples,
which are, on the south, the Tjo ; on the west, the Yoruba ;
on the north-west and north, tribes of the Yoruba stock ; on
the north-east, the Igbira, on the east, but on the other
bank of the Niger, are the Igara, at Ida ; then come, on the
west bank of the Niger, various branches of the Ibos, who
extend down into the Ijo territory.

Certain words appear to be common to the Edo and other
families of languages, but in some cases their prevalence in
both families can be readily explained, and in any case, their
number is far too few to afford the presumption of any
relation between the languages, whose syntax appears to be
entirely different. There is a certain resemblance between
the Edo family and tlie Ewe of Togoland and the Gold Coast,
both in verbal forms and in vocabulary.

Among the words common to Edo and Yoruba, are such
terms as oko (liill), okuta (stone), and the like, and the
reason for their appearance in both families of languages, is
firstly, that the line of kings which formerly ruled the Edo,
■came from the Ife country, and that secondly, hills and
stones being virtually unknown in the Edo country, terms
for them would naturally be adopted from the language of
the immigrants.

There are certain resemblances l)etween the Edo and Ibo
languages, which are more difUcult to explain. Parts of the

K 2

132 EDO GRAMMAR.

body for example, like the mouth (unu), are known by
identical names, and here it is difficult to suggest an
explanation, Tinally, there are a certain number of words,
like ekwiye (spoon), which are obviously adopted from a
Eomance Language of Europe, and we need have no difficulty
on deciding on Portuguese as their source, for it is well known
that the Portuguese were in Edo at the beginning of the
sixteenth century.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL REPORT

ON THE

EDO-SPEAKING PEOPLES OF
NIGERIA.

PART II: LINGUISTICS.

BY

NORTHCOTli; W. THOMAS, M.A„ F.R.A.I., etc.

fiOVEKNMEMT ANTHROPOLOGIST.

LONDON :

HARKISON AND SONS.
1910.